How Does Eliot Distinguish between ‘the Unification of Sensibility’ and ‘the Dissociation of sensibility’?

Answer

How does Eliot distinguish between ‘the unification of sensibility’ and ‘the dissociation of sensibility’? 

T.S. Eliot’s (1888-1965) essay “The Metaphysical Poets” (1921) discusses two important ideas: the ‘unification of sensibility’ and the ‘dissociation of sensibility.’ He uses these ideas to show how earlier poets like John Donne mixed thought and feeling well, while later poets like John Milton and Tennyson did not. The following points provide a clear explanation of the difference.

Unification of Sensibility: Eliot says that Metaphysical poets, like John Donne, could naturally join thinking and feeling together in their poems. He explains, 

A thought to Donne was an experience;

This means that for Donne, thoughts were not just ideas; they were felt deeply like emotions. So, these poets expressed both their thoughts and feelings at the same time in their poems.

Dissociation of Sensibility: Eliot argues that after the Metaphysical poets, a ‘dissociation of sensibility’ happened. This means thinking and feeling became separate. Later poets, like Milton and Dryden, focused more on either thought or feeling, but not both together. Eliot says, 

Tennyson and Browning are poets, and they think; but they do not feel their thought as immediately as the odour of a rose.

This separation made their poems less powerful.

The Impact on Poetry: Eliot believes this separation hurt poetry. He says that even though the language became more beautiful, the feelings became less true. Eliot writes, 

While the language became more refined, the feeling became more crude.

The special mix of thought and feeling that the Metaphysical poets had was lost. This led to poetry that was not as strong emotionally.

In simple words, Eliot thinks that metaphysical poets were better because they could mix thoughts and feelings well, but later, poets lost this important skill